Enlarge the image

Blois remarkable

Labeled a “Town of art and history” in 1986, Blois possesses a historical and architectural heritage that will not leave you unmoved, and it is enhanced by top-quality cultural and touristic facilities.
Façade des loges du Château royal de Blois.

Royal château

A not-to-be missed Loire valley site, the royal château of Blois is a historic monument offering a fascinating panorama of the architecture and history of France.
Six têtes de dragons automatisées sortent des fenêtres de la façade de la Maison de la magie.

House of Magic

An essential step in a visit to Blois, the Robert-Houdin house of magic is the only public museum in Europe bringing together magic collections and permanent live performances.
Des dizaines de tableaux-écritures de Ben accrochés à la façade de la Fondation du doute forment le Mur des mots.

Foundation of doubt

The foundation of doubt is a vibrant venue dedicated to apprenticeship, exhibition, expression and interrogation on art via its collection of contemporary art, a lively site where the “Fluxus” spirit still reigns.
Façade du bâtiment des Jacobins, accueillant le Muséum et le musée d’art religieux

Museum of natural history

A concentrate of nature on the banks of the Loire, the museum offers a regularly updated, playful tour, enabling visitors to (re)discover the region’s biodiversity.
Le bâtiment donne à la fois sur la façade des loges du Château royal et sur le square Victor-Hugo.

Center of the Resistance

The center of the Resistance, deportation and Memory retraces the history of the Second World War and invites you to a final battle… against forgetfulness.
Un enfant visite l’exposition permanente de la Maison de la bd.

Comic strip house

A unique venue in the Loire valley region, the Comic strip house immerses you in the subtleties of the 9th art. It is a site propitious to creation, education and exhibition, and year in and year out, it hosts the bd BOUM (“badaboom!”) comics festival.
La Loire photographiée depuis le milieu du pont François-Mitterrand vers l’amont.

Loire, royal river

In the heart of the Loire valley, included on the list of the World Heritage of Humanity, Blois is bisected by the Loire, free and royal river. It suffuses the town with the permanent natural, cultural and esthetic wealth it strives to showcase.
La Joconde recouvre les contremarches de l’escalier Denis-Papin.

Denis-Papin staircase

An iconic attraction in Blois, the monumental Denis-Papin staircase overlooks the town, provides an unforgettable panoramic view, and regularly enlivens urban space with its original, grandiose decorations.
Concert d’Olly Goes to Bollywood, en 2016 dans la Halle aux grains.

Cultural scene

Cultural heritage sites in Blois

Part of Blois’ richness resides in its cultural heritage, which showcases the different architectural epochs having punctuated the town’s history. Here is a small, by no means exhaustive sampling.

Labels et certifications

The natural, cultural, human and technical qualities of Blois have gained recognition through several labels and certifications.

A 2000-year heritage  

In a town that has existed for two millennia, history is illustrated by a distinctive heritage: timber-framed houses, Renaissance mansions, an 18th-century episcopal palace, 19th-century urbanism, industrial heritage represented by the old Poulain chocolate factory and, last but not least, the Loire river heritage; the Loire valley is recognized as a world heritage site.

The royal château of Blois is the most evocative example of how, over the centuries, architecture has evolved in France. From the Middle Ages through modern times, by visiting the “estates general” room or viewing the “loges” facade and the “Gaston, Duke of Orléans” wing, you will traverse the grand epochs of French history: the counts of Blois in medieval times; the departure of Joan of Arc to deliver Orléans, the royal court of the Renaissance.

Enlarge the image

A town department dedicated to heritage

All year long, the municipal department dedicated to the label is at work striving to facilitate discovery of the Blois heritage by means of theme-based visits with commentaries by guide-lecturers, clearly identified paths, “patrimonial” signposting and publications such as “Laissez-vous conter” (let yourself be told a story).

During school trips, the department introduces children to architecture, urbanism and the heritage by means of general or theme-based visits (examples: “the Renaissance habitat”, “Blois memory”) and workshops initiating them to the secrets of the assembly of ribbed vaulting or craft techniques (stained glass windows…).

A culturally rewarding agenda

Highlighted by the “Lyres d’été” summer festival, no less than 300 events are programmed year after year in Blois and its outskirts, many of which are closely associated with the town heritage.

The European Heritage Days taking place in the 3rd weekend of September represent a yearly occasion for anyone and everyone to (re)discover the Blois heritage, at times from an unfamiliar and surprising angle.

And finally, throughout the year, numerous visits, strolls, discovery tours and other events are organized. For precise information, click the link to the French-language “agenda des sorties”. 

 

Enlarge the image

“Blois, de sens et d’esprit”: a beautiful on our town

The town has backed the initiative of the Toulouse-based publishing house Privat to photograph our town as it is today and to retrace its history and evolution in 200+ pages, translated in English. Available in local libraries.

Enlarge the image